Okay, then. She handed his stash over to him and he clutched it to his chest as if it was a lifeline. Then he turned to Genesis. “Thank you for the help. I know I don’t deserve it.”
“You’re damn right you don’t,” Bruno growled.
Jones’s face paled but he stepped forward. “I can be ready to leave by the end of the day. I just need to tie up a few loose ends.”
Genesis nodded. “I’ll put you in touch with my guy. After that, don’t ever contact me again. You’ve burned this bridge.”
Bruno grabbed Jones by the back of the neck and marched him and the guard out.
Ivy shoved a breath out once it was just the three of them.
Nash finally sheathed his weapons and faced Genesis. “What the hell was that? Why would you help him?”
She lifted a shoulder. “He’s an asshole, but I don’t think he actually planned to kill me. He’s acting out of fear right now. And he’s done me a few favors over the years. I don’t like owing debts so now he and I are even. Besides, if I do a favor for him like this, he’s way less likely to tell the Green brothers anything about you two. He’s just going to leave town and ditch this life.”
Ivy nodded, understanding. “I’m sorry for what happened here. It’s my fault—”
Genesis shook her head, her long blonde ponytail swishing slightly. “Stop with that. This could’ve happened at any time, because of any job I’ve done. He’s a dumbass who got involved with a very bad man. He won’t last the year, probably not even three months, but at least I’m giving him a head start. And you and I are good, promise.”
Ivy shoved out a sigh and collapsed on one of the nearest club chairs. Her emotions were on a roller coaster right now and she couldn’t stop the tremble racking through her. “I was scared when I heard your voice. I knew something was wrong.”
“Yeah but you knew something was wrong, that’s the point. See, this is why I know we would work well together. That job offer still stands.”
Ivy flicked a glance over at Nash, who gave her a questioning look. She cleared her throat and stood. “Are you going to get in trouble with whoever this Krychek guy is for helping Jones?” Ivy asked as she stood.
“Nah. I’ve stayed off his radar for good reason. I’m careful about who I do business with. I’m actually mostly legit at this point,” she said on a laugh. “It feels weird to say that, but I am.”
“Well thank you for all your help with this whole thing. I really appreciate it.”
“Hey, it’s partially selfish. This is me trying to lure you to the dark side of working with me.”
Laughing, Ivy gave Genesis a hug and headed out with Nash, who had been very silent. “Oh, hell.” She pulled out the phone Nash had given to her and realized Juan was still on the line. “You still there?” she asked even though the line was open.
“Yep. You guys good?”
“We are. Thank you for being our backup. Here’s Nash.” She handed the phone to Nash who quickly ended the conversation with a promise to contact Juan later.
“So she offered you a new job?” Nash asked as soon as they made it downstairs. There was no sign of any of the men he’d tied up. Bruno really had taken the trash out.
“Yeah.”
“You thinking about taking it?”
“Yes.” She didn’t want to talk more about it, however. She was still reeling from everything, all her emotions bowstring taut.
Surprisingly, he didn’t push. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “I’d like it if you were in Miami full-time,” was all he said.
Warmth bloomed inside her at the sentiment. She had questions she wanted to ask him, even though she was so mad at him for last night. But after what had just happened, after the risks he’d taken to protect her, she was wondering if she was doing the right thing at all. She hated the thought of losing the shelter but she hated the thought of anything happening to her family or Nash way more.
As they stepped out into the sunshine, she decided to tell him everything. “This might be my last job.”
Chapter 19
Luka paced at the end of the bed, fighting the panic spiking through him. Delilah had just left without telling him. They were supposed to stay put in the hotel suites—Noah had been very specific about that.
Once Noah and Miles had figured out the rest of the details, and called in some favors, they’d moved here. And Noah had basically threatened him about staying put while they were setting up the auction. Which was mostly online on the black market, but there were a few local buyers Noah trusted who had wanted to see the painting in person. And if one of the buyers was local and had the cash, then they got it immediately. And Noah had agreed to meet with the locals as a show of good faith. They couldn’t afford for anything to go wrong—which meant staying put.
Luka spun at the distinctive sound of the door clicking open to find Delilah stepping inside, looking as gorgeous as ever. In a skintight pale yellow dress, she smiled at him and held up a bottle of expensive champagne, the glint in her eyes mischievous.
Relief slid through him. She hadn’t left him—which had been his real fear, he realized. But she’d been pulling away from him, he could feel it in his bones. That just made him want to latch onto her tighter. His brother Miles liked escorts because he just wanted sex with no attachments, and Noah simply took it when he could get it. That was only because they’d never experienced someone like Delilah. Someone so free and giving in the bedroom. She made him feel like they could do anything together. He simply couldn’t let her go.
“Why didn’t you tell me where you were going?” He’d gotten out of the shower and she’d just been gone.
She arched an eyebrow as she stepped inside, her heels giving her an extra four inches of height as she walked toward him, her hips swaying seductively. “I’m sorry, are you my boss?” she purred.
He bit back a groan, his anger slipping away. “Only if you want me to be.” God, he wanted to strip that dress off and take her up against the window. His dick was already hard thinking about it.
She grinned as she headed to the minibar, her lips a slick, glossy red. “Where are your brothers? I thought they’d be back by now.”
“Downstairs in the lobby. They’re meeting with one of the potential buyers and it should be a while. Noah said the guy wanted to talk over dinner so we should have at least an hour.”
“So what happens after they sell it?” She popped the cork.
“We get our cut and then you and I go on vacation.” That had always been the plan.
“Or we could go on a couple other jobs.” She giggled as champagne spilled over, dripping onto her long, elegant, fingers. “I know of a crew we can join up with in Amsterdam.”
He took the bottle from her, and poured both of them glasses even as he frowned. “What crew?”
She lifted one tanned shoulder. “Just this guy I used to know.”
“Used to know?” What the hell did that mean?
“Used to hang out with. Whatever. Why are you being weird?”
“I don’t want to hook up with some crew I don’t know.” That was how you ended up in jail. No thanks. He liked his life, doing what he wanted, when he wanted.